TEMECULA – A suspect was arrested after initiating a vehicle pursuit, escaping on foot, and ultimately being brought to a halt by a police canine unit.
Near midnight on Saturday, a Riverside County Sheriff’s deputy patrolling the 21800 block of Richard Road noticed a man acting suspiciously in the cab of a Toyota Tundra. The suspect crouched down in the seat as if trying to avoid being spotted by the patrol car.
The deputy pulled over to investigate and as he exited his vehicle, the truck began to move. According to Sergeant David Cardoza in a press release, the Tundra made slight contact with the officer as it accelerated past, continuing on Richard Road toward State Highway 74. The deputy called the vehicle in and another patrol unit spotted the vehicle on State Highway 74 and Rosetta Canyon Drive.
The second deputy attempted to pull the Toyota Tundra over, and a vehicle pursuit was initiated. The deputy gave chase and the occupant abandoned the truck of Rosetta Canyon Road and Sunsprite Street, fleeing on foot into the wash area. The Toyota Tundra had been reported stolen out of the city of Temecula.
The suspect escaped down Whitehall Street and residents called in to report the suspect fleeing through their backyards. Deputies established a perimeter based on public reports and a police service canine, along with the Sheriff’s air unit responded to the location.
Once the air unit pinpointed the suspect’s location in a backyard in the 40900 block of Diana Lane, officers converged on the area. Again, the suspect attempted to flee and the police service canine was deployed. The K9 officer bit the suspect, detaining him. Dan Andrew Dalton, 30, of Meadowbrook was taken into custody.
Dalton was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon, vehicle theft, possession of stolen property, and felony evading and was eventually transported to the Southwest Detention Center.
Read More:
Press Enterprise: Car chase ends in auto-theft arrest
MyValleyNews: Police arrest parolee driving stolen pickup
